Not quite accurate. Contracts for some cos are locked in for 6 mos. Beyond that you have the whole issue of price elasticity of demand and competition, not to mention political negotiations and supply chain juggling.

Yeah it's not a good development but the outlook isn't as stark as you suggest. Tariff wars with Italians aint cool though, to be clear.

This is what you all voted for. Unless, if course, Boulder went for Romney.

The idea is to create an incentive for companies to bring manufacturing jobs back home. Complaining is just the classic American response to any and all decisions than cause you to have to live more like the rest of the world. Sure you want corporations to pay more taxes, you want them to supply more jobs, you want the Feds to pay unemployment, all as long as it doesn't keep you from having your iPhones, espresso machines and La Sportivas.

Wake up people. The last 60 years could not have happened without what is going to take place over the next 20. We are in for a major rebalancing of everything and it will be good for future generations.

Not quite accurate. Contracts for some cos are locked in for 6 mos. Beyond that you have the whole issue of price elasticity of demand and competition, not to mention political negotiations and supply chain juggling. Yeah it's not a good development but the outlook isn't as stark as you suggest. Tariff wars with Italians aint cool though, to be clear.

I would also point out that the figures are being provided by an industry group (aka lobbyist) so I have a real hard time believing the figures provided. Testarossas would cost $250 and, likely no one would buy them.

If prices do go up, all I see is a job opportunity for American climbers looking for a job in the climbing industry. If Sportivas go up to 200ish bucks then it would be lucrative for a company to manufacture shoes in the US creating decent paying jobs and putting an affordable product on the market by avoiding taxes on goods manufactured overseas. The benefit to the climber is they get a product for close to current prices and their buddy or climbing partner gets a sweet job making climbing shoes.

If prices do go up, all I see is a job opportunity for American climbers looking for a job in the climbing industry. If Sportivas go up to 200ish bucks then it would be lucrative for a company to manufacture shoes in the US creating decent paying jobs and putting an affordable product on the market by avoiding taxes on goods manufactured overseas. The benefit to the climber is they get a product for close to current prices and their buddy or climbing partner gets a sweet job making climbing shoes.

unfortunately i don't think anyone in the US has ever come close to making a competitor to the Testarossas... The 'skills' and 'quality' have not yet been developed by climbers here in the USA. Though an increase would give a fair shot at trying.

The prices for most of these companies are already set for 2013. Therefore prices WILL NOT be going up for now. Rock shoes will not be hit as the tariffs are being raised on Asian made products. So your shoes are fine.

And like Captain Mo said, we 'Muricans' cant even come close to making a quality shoe like the Testarossa, etc. We just dont have that Italian finesse. Maybe you should try getting your cowboy boots resoled with sticky rubber if your worried about the Country of Orgin.

EDIT: The affected shoes in the outdoor specialty footwear industry are only Asian made products and boots/shoes with GTX.

This is what you all voted for. Unless, if course, Boulder went for Romney. The idea is to create an incentive for companies to bring manufacturing jobs back home. Complaining is just the classic American response to any and all decisions than cause you to have to live more like the rest of the world. Sure you want corporations to pay more taxes, you want them to supply more jobs, you want the Feds to pay unemployment, all as long as it doesn't keep you from having your iPhones, espresso machines and La Sportivas. Wake up people. The last 60 years could not have happened without what is going to take place over the next 20. We are in for a major rebalancing of everything and it will be good for future generations.

This is what you all voted for. Unless, if course, Boulder went for Romney. The idea is to create an incentive for companies to bring manufacturing jobs back home. Complaining is just the classic American response to any and all decisions than cause you to have to live more like the rest of the world. Sure you want corporations to pay more taxes, you want them to supply more jobs, you want the Feds to pay unemployment, all as long as it doesn't keep you from having your iPhones, espresso machines and La Sportivas. Wake up people. The last 60 years could not have happened without what is going to take place over the next 20. We are in for a major rebalancing of everything and it will be good for future generations.

Ryan - your comment strikes me as odd... on one hand you seem to be pointing the finger at others and saying "this is your fault, you voted for this," and in the next breath saying this is a good thing for our future. I'm confused.

I would also point out that the figures are being provided by an industry group (aka lobbyist) so I have a real hard time believing the figures provided. Testarossas would cost $250 and, likely no one would buy them.

Climbing shoes are WICKED expensive in New Zealand. $250 for Testes, even considering the exchange rate, seems pretty average. The tariffs NZ has in place contributes a huge amount to the inflated prices, so much so that some Kiwi climbers depend on friends in the USA to get their climbing shoes. Even shoes on clearance were on par with our average prices. These tariffs are designed to protect American industry and unfortunately some of our favorite mountain shoe brands aren't American companies.

I wonder how much of this is simply hyped up, since Sportiva said they'd have to mark up 16 models, less than half of the models they make. I also wonder what'll happen to 5.10 now that its owned by Adidas...

So it'll mostly change the price of Mad Rock, even though its an American company who manufactures their products in east Asia?

I could see myself driving a Maserati Quattroporte everyday in a lot of parts of the US! That said I'd rather have a Subaru STI, but that's besides the point. The point is Italy makes some fine products, many of which are unmatched in quality by US competitors

Ryan - your comment strikes me as odd... on one hand you seem to be pointing the finger at others and saying "this is your fault, you voted for this," and in the next breath saying this is a good thing for our future. I'm confused.

The point (which I agree with) is that while we voted for change, it seems to be the American attitude that change should never, ever be painful, which is why tax rates have stayed so low for so long. Higher tariffs and higher prices, coupled with lower wages for workers and executives, are what MUST occur for manufacturing to return to the US. As long as its cheaper to manufacture overseas, then import, then companies will keep doing so, because as much as Americans might talk about buying "Made in the USA", we still look for the lowest price first. Ethically, Americans are easy to buy. My experience with climbers has not convinced me that our user group is any different.

Ryan - your comment strikes me as odd... on one hand you seem to be pointing the finger at others and saying "this is your fault, you voted for this," and in the next breath saying this is a good thing for our future. I'm confused.

I'm not saying that this is a bad thing, and I didn't mean to say it was anyone's "fault."

I was just pointing out that many many people have championed Barack Obama over the years because of his stance on social issues and his ideas about how to stop the middle class from disappearing. But many of these people don't think about the fact that all of the things Barry wants to do and all of the changes he wants to make are going to cost a shitload of money. They haven't thought about where it's going to come from.

People want there to be a safety net for all Americans. Free health care, extended unemployment, etc. Well you're asking govt to spend a lot of money - they must raise taxes on everyone. Not just the rich - it won't be enough. The middle class will see tax increases at some point and so will corporations.

You know how I have free healthcare and other "safety net" things here in the UK? I pay a 20% federal tax on everything I buy. EVERYTHING! Tell me Americans wouldn't freak out if that idea was talked about in the US. No, Americans only want to talk about the free health care and the safety net. They don't want to talks about who pays for it.

The 99% wanted American corporations to bring jobs back to the US. Well, the best way to do that is to penalize a corporation who keep jobs abroad, and the only way to do that is through taxes. Higher wages will be paid by the corps who bring jobs home and higher taxes will be paid by corps who don't. Either way, the cost of goods is going to go up. We'll have riots again. Only this time it won't be about a lack of jobs - it will be about the cost of everything skyrocketing.

Again, I think that this must happen. We have to pay for our free for all, buy everything, eat everything, own everything mentality of the past. But make no mistakes - it is going to fucking suck!

My problem is that most people will vote for change and talk about it, but when the time comes for them to make sacrifices they bitch and moan.

I'm not saying that this is a bad thing, and I didn't mean to say it was anyone's "fault." I was just pointing out that many many people have championed Barack Obama over the years because of his stance on social issues and his ideas about how to stop the middle class from disappearing. But many of these people don't think about the fact that all of the things Barry wants to do and all of the changes he wants to make are going to cost a shitload of money. They haven't thought about where it's going to come from. People want there to be a safety net for all Americans. Free health care, extended unemployment, etc. Well you're asking govt to spend a lot of money - they must raise taxes on everyone. Not just the rich - it won't be enough. The middle class will see tax increases at some point and so will corporations. You know how I have free healthcare and other "safety net" things here in the UK? I pay a 20% federal tax on everything I buy. EVERYTHING! Tell me Americans wouldn't freak out if that idea was talked about in the US. No, Americans only want to talk about the free health care and the safety net. They don't want to talks about who pays for it. The 99% wanted American corporations to bring jobs back to the US. Well, the best way to do that is to penalize a corporation who keep jobs abroad, and the only way to do that is through taxes. Higher wages will be paid by the corps who bring jobs home and higher taxes will be paid by corps who don't. Either way, the cost of goods is going to go up. We'll have riots again. Only this time it won't be about a lack of jobs - it will be about the cost of everything skyrocketing. Again, I think that this must happen. We have to pay for our free for all, buy everything, eat everything, own everything mentality of the past. But make no mistakes - it is going to fucking suck! My problem is that most people will vote for change and talk about it, but when the time comes for them to make sacrifices they bitch and moan.

+1. The situation of this country is not unlike when you rack up thousands on eight credit cards in your mid twenties just after college and then have the "oh shit" moment and have to declare bankruptcy in your late thirties when you get laid off. It IS coming. And it WILL suck.